His Brother's Son

by Jennifer Taylor

  ‘How does that feel now? Any easier?’

  He jumped when she spoke, only then realising that she’d finished the massage. He cautiously opened his eyes, but his headache was nowhere near as bad as it had been.

  ‘Much better. Thank you,’ he said formally.

  ‘Good.’ She came around the sofa and smiled at him. ‘Now, drink that tea and you’ll feel even better, I guarantee it.’

  He picked up the cup, grimacing as he took a tentative sip of the hot liquid. Rebecca laughed softly, a musical sound which for some reason made his stomach muscles clench.

  ‘You look just like Josh does when I try to introduce some new food to his diet. Be brave and drink it all up. I promise that it won’t poison you.’

  ‘Even though it would solve a lot of your problems if you managed to get rid of me from your life?’ he suggested drily, taking another sip of the tea.

  ‘We can’t always have everything we want, can we? We all have to compromise at times.’

  He put down the cup and looked at her because there had been something in her voice that told him it hadn’t been an idle statement. It was dark in the room with just the light from the skylight to chase away the shadows. Rebecca was wiping the oil from her hands on an old towel and she didn’t look at him even though she must have known he was looking at her.

  Felipe found himself wishing that he could tell what she was thinking, but her face was little more than a blur, her soft, blonde hair falling around it. Maybe it was the fact that she looked so young and vulnerable at that moment which made him oddly hesitant about demanding an explanation. Or maybe the truth was that he didn’t want another confrontation that night. Whatever, his tone was gentler than it might otherwise have been.

  ‘Meaning that I will need to compromise as well as you?’

  ‘Yes.’ She shrugged but there was an air of tension about her all of a sudden which made his skin prickle. ‘We shall both have to compromise if this is going to work. You want me to go to Mallorca to live and I’ve decided that’s what I shall do, but there are conditions.’

  ‘What kind of conditions?’ he asked flatly, because he refused to let her see how that statement had worried him.

  ‘That I have the final say where Josh is concerned. I know how easy it would be for you to take over, Felipe. You’re used to doing things your way, but you have to accept that I know what’s best for Josh. I’m happy for you to play a role in his life, but it has to be on my terms.’

  He heard Rebecca take a deep breath and he felt his stomach muscles tighten as he waited to hear what else she had to say.

  ‘You have to remember that you’re his uncle, not his father. I know what Antonio wanted for Josh and I intend to see that his wishes are respected.’

  ‘And you believe that I would try to override my brother’s wishes?’ It was impossible to keep the hurt out of his voice and he heard her sigh.

  ‘I don’t believe that you would do it intentionally, Felipe. I know how much you loved Antonio and how upset you’ve been because you believe that you let him down. But trying to compensate by using Josh as a substitute for your brother would be wrong. Josh is Josh. He’s a person in his own right.’

  He didn’t know what to say. Was she right? Had he been hoping to ease his grief over his brother’s death by taking control of his nephew’s future? He couldn’t dispute it but didn’t want to agree with it either, and it was his own inability to know how he felt which worried him most. It simply wasn’t like him to be so indecisive.

  He stood up, knowing that he needed some time on his own to think about everything that had happened that night. Rebecca didn’t try to stop him as he left the room. She followed him into the hall and opened the front door.

  ‘I’ll speak to you tomorrow to finalise the arrangements,’ she said quietly, and he nodded because he didn’t trust himself to speak.

  She suddenly reached up on tiptoe and he felt shock score through him when she brushed his cheek with her lips. It was the first time that she’d touched him of her own volition and it felt like a turning point, as though from that moment their relationship would be on a different footing. The idea worried him and it must have shown.

  ‘Don’t look so worried, Felipe. Everything will work out if we really want it to.’

  He heard the plea in her voice but exactly what did she want him to believe? That the situation would work out as she’d said it would? Or that she really cared how he felt after everything that had been said between them, all the insults and harsh words?

  He left the flat and made his way downstairs. The streetlights were on and he wondered if it was the light from them which had made his vision blur again until he realised it was the tears in his eyes. In his heart he knew that he might be making a mistake but he couldn’t help it. He wanted to believe that Rebecca cared about his feelings, wanted it so much that it scared him to acknowledge the depth of his need.

  What did it mean? Surely he couldn’t be falling under her spell the same way Antonio had?

  CHAPTER SEVEN

  ‘THERE will need to be an inquest, of course. Highly regrettable, but one can understand the parents’ distress. One minute they’re told that their daughter should make a full recovery and the next they’re being told that she’s died because of some dreadful blunder.’

  Becky sighed as she looked around the office at all the gloomy faces. Little Rosie Stokes had died during the night, despite all their efforts to redress the damage caused by the wrong blood transfusion. As if that wasn’t bad enough, the staff from St Ada’s were claiming that she’d been given the wrong transfusion on admission to St Leonard’s and that they weren’t to blame for what had happened. It meant that everyone involved would need to give a statement.

  ‘Just what we need, I don’t think,’ Karen declared as they left the office.

  Sister Reece was back on duty that day so Becky had left her to deal with an irate James Watts. The consultant was furious that even a hint of blame might be attached to him and his staff, and intended to get to the bottom of the affair. Simon was in the office with them and he rolled his eyes at her as she passed the window.

  She gave him a quick smile and hurried into the ward. Simon had been trying to get her on her own all morning but so far she’d managed to avoid him. He obviously wanted to talk about what had happened when she’d introduced him to Felipe but, frankly, she didn’t want to discuss it. She had enough problems without adding any more.

  A frown pleated her brows as for the hundredth time she found herself wondering why she’d kissed Felipe. At the time it had seemed the most natural thing to do. It was only after shutting the front door that she’d started wondering what had prompted her to do such a thing. Had it been simply a way to comfort him because he’d been upset?

  She’d tried to tell herself that all night long, but she knew in her heart that it hadn’t been the only reason. There was something about Felipe that drew her to him, and it scared her to have to admit that it wasn’t just because he bore a striking resemblance to Antonio.

  ‘You don’t believe what Ada’s lot are saying, do you, Becky?’

  Becky looked up, realising that she’d missed what Karen had said. ‘Sorry, what was that?’

  ‘I asked you if you believed what the staff from St Ada’s are saying—about it being our fault, not theirs.’ Karen frowned. ‘What is the matter with you today? You’ve been miles away. There’s nothing wrong with Josh, is there?’

  ‘No, he’s fine. I’m just a bit distracted, I suppose.’ She took a quick breath, realising this was the perfect opportunity to break the news of her departure. ‘I’m handing in my notice today. I’ve decided to move to Mallorca at the end of the month.’

  ‘So it is true? Simon mentioned something about it yesterday but I thought he was having me on because you hadn’t said anything to me.’

  Becky bit back a sigh when she heard the hurt note in Karen’s voice. ‘I never had a chance because we were so busy all
day long. I only told Simon because we happened to be sitting together at lunchtime.’

  ‘Oh, that explains it, then. I was a bit miffed that you’d told him and not me. Mind you, I did wonder if you’d told him that to sort of gee him up,’ Karen said cheerfully, taking Danny Epstein’s notes from the end of his bed and quickly writing down his obs.

  The boy had come through the operation to replace his damaged heart valves far better than anyone had dared to hope and was starting to show signs of improvement. His parents had been so encouraged by his progress, in fact, that they’d taken a break that morning, having spent the whole week at his bedside.

  Becky smiled as she checked the readings as Karen jotted them down. ‘He’s doing really well, isn’t he?’

  ‘He is, but stop trying to change the subject. We were talking about you and Simon.’ Karen hung the clipboard back in its place and looked at her. ‘So?’

  ‘So what?’ She sighed when her friend rolled her eyes in exasperation. ‘There is no me and Simon, and I wasn’t trying to “gee him up”, as you so eloquently put it. We’re just friends, that’s all.’

  ‘Maybe that’s how you feel, but I have the distinct impression that Simon was hoping to be rather more than just a friend,’ Karen retorted.

  ‘I don’t have time for a relationship,’ she said bluntly. ‘I have my work cut out trying to hold down a full-time job and take care of Josh.’

  ‘But you’ll have a bit more time when you move to Mallorca?’ Karen suggested. ‘I can see why you’ve decided it might be a good idea. I expect Josh’s uncle will help you look after him so you’ll have some time for yourself. Families come in very handy at times, don’t they?’

  ‘They do,’ Becky murmured, not wanting to be drawn into a discussion about the extent of Felipe’s involvement.

  Would he accept what she’d said about her being in charge of any decisions concerning Josh’s future? she wondered as they moved to the next bed. Or would he try to usurp her authority once she was living in Mallorca?

  It was impossible to guess, but it was unsettling to think that she might have a fight on her hands. Becky tried to put it out of her mind while she concentrated on her work, but it was an unsettling day all round.

  James Watts got in touch with the consultant at St Ada’s and it appeared that the blood that had been given to Rosie hadn’t come from them. Each 500 ml unit of blood was bar-coded so it could be traced back to its source, and their records showed that it had come from St Leonard’s supplies.

  Becky was called into the office to explain what had gone on from the minute the child had been admitted to the IC unit. Although she hadn’t dealt with the transfer herself, she had been in overall charge at the time. Karen had been responsible for settling the little girl and she’d had Debbie to help her. When Karen had been called away, the trainee had been left on her own.

  Debbie was interviewed, but she categorically denied having changed the transfusion. As she pointed out, Rosie had arrived with a transfusion already set up and there had been no need to fetch a fresh unit of blood when more than half of it had been left. How the child had ended up with blood that had come from St Leonard’s was a mystery, but Becky knew that there needed to be an investigation.

  It left everyone feeling very edgy so it was a relief when it was time to go home. She had a word with Debbie and tried to reassure her that she wasn’t being blamed for what had happened, but it was obvious that the trainee was upset about being under suspicion.

  Becky left the hospital at a little after six, half expecting to find Felipe waiting for her. There was no sign of him so she collected Josh and took him home. They went through their usual night-time routine and all the while she kept waiting for the phone to ring. However, by the time she’d settled Josh for the night, Felipe still hadn’t contacted her. She was making herself some supper when there was a knock on the door.

  Her heart was hammering as she hurried to answer it because she had no idea what she would say if Felipe raised the matter of that kiss. How could she explain if he demanded to know why she’d done it? Telling him that it had felt like the right thing to do sounded a very lame excuse. It was a relief to discover that it wasn’t Felipe after all, but a neighbour from the flat downstairs with a package for her.

  She went back to the kitchen and opened it, staring in bewilderment at the two plane tickets. There was one for her and one for Josh, first-class seats for a one-way trip to Mallorca at the end of the month. There was an envelope as well and inside it there was a cheque for twenty thousand pounds.

  Becky ripped open the package but there was nothing else, not even a note. Felipe had simply sent her everything she needed. A few kindly words of reassurance that she was doing the right thing obviously hadn’t featured on his list of essentials. It hurt to realise that he could ignore her feelings when she cared so much about his.

  She felt her breath catch as that thought sank in. When had she stopped seeing him as a threat and started worrying about him as a person? Had it been last night when she’d kissed him? She wasn’t sure, but she knew in her heart that her feelings towards him had changed in the past three days.

  It worried her because she couldn’t afford to start having doubts at this stage. She had to think about Josh and making sure that he was safe.

  Josh needed her. She had to hold onto that thought and know in her heart that everything she’d done had been justified. And yet she couldn’t help wondering how Felipe would feel if he found out the truth, if he would be hurt as well as angry because she had lied to him.

  She cared how he felt, she realised. She cared a great deal.

  ‘Dr Valdez! This is a surprise.’

  Felipe smiled thinly when he heard the shock in Domingo Santiago’s voice. It was obvious that the younger doctor hadn’t been expecting him to turn up at the Clinica Valdez at that time of the night. It was a little after eleven and it was rare for him to arrive so late unless there was an emergency. However, he’d felt a deep reluctance to go home after the taxi had brought him back from the airport. He had been too on edge to sit in the villa with only his thoughts for company.

  ‘I thought I would check to see if there have been any problems in my absence, Dr Santiago. Have we had many new admissions while I was away?’

  He followed the younger man across the foyer, deliberately cleansing his mind of any thoughts except what might have happened at the clinic in his absence. He had spent hours going over what had happened the night before, recalling time after time how Rebecca had kissed him. Even now he could taste the sweetness of her lips, remember with an alarming clarity just how soft they’d felt. If he’d allowed himself to he could have conjured up her image as well, seen in his mind’s eye her beautiful face, her soft grey eyes, the sweetness of her smile…

  ‘Sadly, yes. It has been extremely busy.’

  He blinked when he realised that Domingo was speaking. He felt a shudder run through him as he realised how easily his thoughts had returned to Rebecca even though he’d been determined not to think about her. It was an effort to respond with an outward show of calm when his heart was racing.

  ‘Indeed? And has anything serious happened?’

  ‘This morning there was a particularly nasty accident in the bay. A man overturned one of those jet-skis which are so popular with the tourists at the moment.’ Domingo sighed. ‘He suffered a broken collar-bone and some cuts and bruises, but his son was far more seriously injured. The child has a fractured skull and I needed to operate on him.’

  Felipe’s mouth thinned. There had been several bad accidents involving jet-skis in the past year.

  ‘People do not seem to understand the risks they take,’ he said shortly, pressing the button to summon the lift. ‘If one hits water whilst travelling at speed the impact is every bit as great as crashing into a brick wall and can have equally devastating consequences.’

  ‘I know.’ Domingo sounded a little nervous as they got into the lift and sent it on its wa
y to the children’s department.

  Felipe bit back a sigh when he realised that the younger doctor had picked up on his tension and was afraid that he’d done something to upset him. It wasn’t true, of course. He was just feeling out of sorts because of everything that had happened of late. Why had Rebecca kissed him?

  The thought slid into his mind again and he groaned then hurriedly covered it with a cough when he saw Domingo’s alarmed expression. ‘I would like to take a look at the child if you don’t mind, Dr Santiago. Not that I am in any doubt that you have done everything possible to help him.’

  ‘Claro que sí! Of course.’ Domingo looked pleased as they left the lift and made their way to the child’s room.

  Felipe smiled to himself because he couldn’t help thinking how odd it was that a few words could soothe someone’s fears. He knew that the younger man was somewhat in awe of him and resolved to be more aware of that in his dealings with Domingo in future.

  It was an idea that would never have crossed his mind a few days earlier and he frowned when he realised it. Was it Rebecca’s influence again? he found himself wondering as they made their way into the room where the child lay unconscious. Maybe. It was disturbing to realise the effect she was having on his life.

  The boy’s parents were sitting with their son so Felipe put aside his own problems while he spoke to them. They were hollow-eyed with grief and he was shocked when he found his own emotions welling to the surface. There was actually a lump in his throat when he saw the mother’s distress and tears in his own eyes when the father broke down and cried.

  What was happening to him? he wondered. Why did he feel things so acutely all of a sudden? Was this all due to Rebecca? Did her influence extend to this area of his life as well?

  It was an effort to hide his dismay as he assured the worried parents that everything possible was being done for their child. They looked a little better when he took his leave of them and Domingo remarked on it as they left the room.